Rebecca in Retro Reads

Oct 25, 2017 Marquise rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, to-review

The resolution wasn't exactly what I'd have expected, as I felt it "absolved" the main character rather too easily, and the narrator character is a woman I found annoying at times, but I did enjoy the story despite that couple of quibbles. ...more

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Jun 18, 2012 Hannah rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, re-read, 2012-reads, favorites, gothics, houses-as-characters

After 5+ re-reads since my distant teen years, this book still has the power to mesmerize me.

Definitely one of the best character studies I've ever read, and after having recently read a biography of du Maurier, I am convinced that she poured much of her own personality and insecurities into the unnamed second Mrs. de Winter. There's no denying the poignant truth of her observations on inadequacy and powerlessness. It's so realistic it hurts to read it at times throughout the story.

Another trium ...more

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Oct 26, 2020 Carrie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: own, mgr, mystery, classics, gothic, contemporary

My copy is now filled with sticky tabs and annotations.

17 likes · Like · see review

Jul 22, 2014 MomToKippy rated it liked it

Accidentally deleted my review of this. Wonderful prose, clever story, great character development for the most part, lots of atmosphere. What I disliked was that it was so brooding and tragic and at times I was simply bored with it. I almost gave up on it but wanted to know the outcome. I think there are better "classics" out there. ...more

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Oct 06, 2013 Ellie 9218 rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

I had never heard of this book. An embarrassing confession coming from someone who likes to read Classic books as much as I do. I am so thankful to have discovered this true, timeless classic through an October Book Club Selection. Published in 1938 and winner of the Anthony Award for Best Novel of the Century. This is by far the best book I have read this year.

This story is told from the perspective of the second Mrs. de Winter (whose first name we never know). She is a young woman who goes fro I had never heard of this book. An embarrassing confession coming from someone who likes to read Classic books as much as I do. I am so thankful to have discovered this true, timeless classic through an October Book Club Selection. Published in 1938 and winner of the Anthony Award for Best Novel of the Century. This is by far the best book I have read this year.

This story is told from the perspective of the second Mrs. de Winter (whose first name we never know). She is a young woman who goes from being a paid companion for a rude, wealthy American woman vacationing in Europe, to becoming the wife of Maximilian de Winter, an older, wealthy man whose first wife, Rebecca, died the previous year. He takes his new wife back to his estate, Manderley, on the coast of Cornwall, England. Although the beautiful, talented Rebecca is dead, she is not forgotten. Her presence fills the pages and she becomes a major character. Mrs. Danvers, the cruel and evil former personal assistant to Rebecca, makes it clear to Mrs. de Winter that her loyalty was to Rebecca. She lurks in the shadows, always watching, always listening, always there to ensure that the second Mrs. De Winter never feels comfortable in her role as lady of the house. There is a part where Mrs. Danvers insists on showing Mrs. De Winter Rebecca’s bedroom. It literally gave me goosebumps. I think she is possibly one of the best literary villians ever. Mrs. Danvers, along with other townspeople, dwell on Rebecca as if she were still alive. Rebecca is ever present, despite that fact that she’s dead.

I thought the decision to not name the second Mrs. De Winter was so smart. It made the character appear to be a lesser person than Rebecca.

This book had it all for me- a wonderful setting, a suspenseful and well executed plot, interesting/developed characters, romance, and a very unexpected ending. I loved that almost every chapter ended with a cliffhanger. But most of all, I loved the writing style. From the opening line of 'Last night I dreamt I went to Manderly again', I was simply absorbed in. The story is told almost poetically, and it captured my attention from the start. It was hardly like reading a book, but more like watching a film. The way she wrote, everything I read, I could picture. I could see Manderly in my head perfectly.

I heard that Alfred Hitchcock made Rebecca into a movie, which I would love to see. This book was made for Hitchcock.

Absolutely L.O.V.E.D. it
...more

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Apr 05, 2012 Karen rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This book was wonderful, a slow creeping feeling of fear that doesn't let up until the last page. I see now why Hitchcock produced movies based on Du Maurier's stories. ...more

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